We arrived here yesterday afternoon and just hung out for the afternoon and evening. There are about 180 sites here and the park borders the Sonoran Desert. Our neighbors, on both sides, are older folks, in their mid-seventies, but active and interesting. Both guys had worked for Boeing in the distant past and are from the Northwest. They were both just passing through.

Today we decided to take a hike. It was mid-morning when we headed into the desert, just adjacent to the park itself. We found the gate and wandered more or less in a straight line until we found the railroad tracks. There are lots of saguaro cactus here, which are some our favorites. The hike was just over four miles and was quite interesting and for me, tiring. Not tiresome however, in that there were many plants in bloom. The small orange/yellow flowers that I photographed were only about a quarter of an inch in diameter, yet appear much larger in the shots

. Some of the cacti were also blooming, along with my favorite, the creosote bush. Lots of the plants have yellow flowers and show up well in contrast to the green foliage.

On our return, we encountered a fence that we hadn't run across on our hike. With no gates in sight, I spotted a high spot held down by a stone deadman. I cleared away the trapped brush and Lynn scooted under. She held up the lower wire and I did the same, imparting a desert-hue to my left leg. It was a necessary thing to do if we didn't want to add extra miles to our journey.

We had lunch and then decided to drive about twenty-five miles west to the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site. This area was inhabited by indigenous folk up to 7500 years ago. In much later years, explores and wagon trains passed by and visited this small rock strewn hillock. The glyphs are everywhere! I took several shots to give you an idea of the nature of the place. Some of the later ones were made by visiting pioneers, not to mention the spray-painted graffiti on some of the stones. A real problem to remove, I am sure. It was hot today, well into the eighties, but the prevailing breeze made it tolerable. We hiked around the glyph site and enjoyed the solitude in that no others were there with us

. It's easy to imagine walking in the same places that folks have walked for centuries. The area is beautiful, with several small peaks and hills, some strewn with lava rock.

After visiting the petroglyphs, we sought out the Painted Rock Cache. Despite some confusion at the onset, the phone led us to the place, atop a lava rock covered hill. It was buried in a cairn of the same stone. Lynn, Ol' Eagle Eye, spotted it easily and uncovered it with some difficulty, due to the size of the rocks covering it. It was an ammo can filled with treasures galore. I left a USSR key fob and we took a small stapler. A good trade, in my opinion. Now we need staples to fit. For what? I know not.

We started back and looked for another cache, the Pit Stop, but gave up and went home to have dinner instead. We'll go back tomorrow morning and try to locate it.

We had bleu cheese burgers for dinner. A nice treat, but not as tasty as those I've had in cafes recently. We'll only get better at it, for sure.

That's our day. I hope that each of you had some adventure too. It's everywhere, if one only looks. Thanks for stopping by...

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Comments

ferd
on Feb 24, 2012 at 05:01AM

Glyphs are amazing, what did they use for pigment? I can't believe they have survived that long in the sun and heat! Keep 'um comin'...hugs

Cherie
on Feb 24, 2012 at 03:43PM

Loved the photo inthe sand....reminded me of old Western like "High Noon"

Sus
on Feb 24, 2012 at 10:32PM

I could use some of that bright sunshine. It's out right now but trickin us cause the wind is cold. Love love love the shadow pic. Tell Lynner great to hear her voice the other evening. We were at a retirement workshop....figurin out how to grow that extra buck we share! Love yas

Bonnie
on Feb 25, 2012 at 04:13AM

Great photos thanks for sharing!

Debbie
on Feb 25, 2012 at 04:37PM

Loved the photos and the update, can't get over how tall you and Lynn are getting:)